June 19, 2020: In light of our nation’s current events, a supergroup composed of some of Denver’s best bluegrass pickers has been formed to back a newly announced fund created by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Foundation, whose vision is to support diversity and inclusion as essential to the well-being and continued growth of bluegrass music.

The Arnold Shultz Fund is named for a talented African American musician from western Kentucky, who had a big impact on the music of Bill Monroe (known as the Father of Bluegrass music) and the development of bluegrass. The Fund will be used to support activities increasing the participation of persons of color in bluegrass music, which may include scholarships, awards or projects. 

Richard S. Brown, DMD, a nationally known mandolinist in the Monroe style, a member of the IBMA Foundation’s board of directors and an African American, will co-chair the Arnold Shultz Fund advisory committee along with noted bluegrass historian, author, and Bluegrass Hall of Famer Neil V. Rosenberg, Ph.D. “Shultz is long overdue for recognition because of his influence on bluegrass music,” Dr. Brown said. “Arnold played with Bill Monroe’s fiddling uncle Pen Vandiver as a guitarist. Shultz was also a sought-after fiddler and later hired Bill to play guitar for him at dances. Bill Monroe told me about Arnold Shultz and their dance gigs more than 50 years ago, when I was in my twenties. The stories would always end with Bill saying, ‘Now, isn’t that something?’ Yes, it’s time to take Arnold Shultz, one of our hidden legends, out of obscurity and into the mainstream.”

The Denver Bluegrass Allstars featuring Andy Hall and Chris Pandolfi (the Infamous Stringdusters), Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass), Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon) and flatpicking champion, Tyler Grant, will make their debut on Friday, June 26 with a free livestream from Denver’s Mighty Fine Productions.

“I’m elated to get out of the house and make some new music with my favorite Denver pickers. And it feels really good to bring something new to our collective fan base after three months of Zoom and archival footage,” shared Greg Garrison.

“We feel it’s incredibly important to help promote diversity in bluegrass. A portion of proceeds from [the Denver Bluegrass Allstars] stream will go to the brand new Arnold Shultz Fund, powered by the IBMA Foundation,” shared Andy Hall. “The goal of the foundation is to increase the participation of persons of color in bluegrass music. Let’s do what we can to help make bluegrass a place for everyone!”

Although the stream will be provided free of charge, viewers are encouraged to make contributions, where a percentage of proceeds will be donated to the Arnold Shultz Fund. Donations can be made here.

The livestream will be available exclusively through nugs.net, and made possible in part by Upslope Brewing Company. Those interested in viewing may visit here.

For more information, please contact Ariel Rosemberg.

The Infamous Stringdusters last week announced a fresh batch of livestream shows, taking place at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO on October 2-4, 2020. In solidarity with the hard hit independents have taken due to the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, the band is very pleased to announce a direct partnership with 60 venues and promoters in part of the aforementioned livestream event.

A percentage of proceeds from the livestream event will be kicked directly back to the on-board venues and promoters who will join the band in co-promotion efforts. With no signs of the big picture tides turning right now, this is very humbly the band's conscious effort at giving back to those who believed in them along the journey thus far.

"When we were coming up with ideas of how to make this more of an 'all-in' event, the idea to involve our favorite partners, coast to coast, felt like the perfect fit," shared Joshua Knight, agent for the Dusters "This was ideal to reach all of our fans, but also a way to help many of our friends in the independent venue and promoter business as well."

The list of venues and promoters includes: The Fox Theatre, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, WinterWonderGrass Festival, Borderland Festival, Huck Finn Jubilee, Northwest String Summit, Rooster Walk, Log Jam Presents, Deadhead Productions, Charm City Bluegrass, Old Rock House, Mohawk Austin, Zero Mile, Cervantes, Belly Up Aspen, Jamo Presents, Creative Concerts, Big Blues Bender, WI Jam, Levitate Festival, Maxx Music, The Bowls, Crystal Bay Ballroom, Bona-fide Live, Beachland Ballroom, 10 Mile Music Hall, Suwanee Music Park, Collective Presents, Productions Simple, Midwood Entertainment, Creative Concerts, Spune Productions, Parallel 44, State Theatre Portland, Jay TV, Knitting Factory, Voiceless Artists, FPC Live, The Ark, Shepherds Ford, Higher Ground, Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, The Caverns, Another Planet, AC Entertainment, Sheridan Opera House, Buffalo Iron Works, Bells Beer, Vootie Productions, Wormtown, National Shows 2 and more.

Previously reported:

The event, which will appear live, exclusively on luck.stream, will feature two 2-set shows (Friday and Saturday) with limited capacity virtual VIP prior to each, as well as a unique, game show-esque matinee on Sunday morning.

Friday evening is billed as “An Evening With,” where the band will dive headfirst into an old fashioned, kick-ass 2-set Dusters show. Saturday will offer a deeper exploration as the band embarks on a “Classics and Covers” experience. The Sunday matinee, “Bluegrass, Brunch & Bingo”, will offer live fan interaction in an open-form, game show setting, complete with high stakes prizes such as “GUESTS FOR LIFE.”

Viewers can expect fully immersive sets each night of the stream, with production set at the same caliber as all Stringdusters live shows. Both Friday and Saturday will begin at 8:00 PM MST, with a special Sunday matinee starting at 1:00 PM MST. Fans who purchase the Friday/Saturday combo as well as at least one VIP upgrade will receive access to Sunday free of charge (at this time, Sunday standalone tickets will not be available).

Tickets and more information can be found here.

Stringdusters Livestream Pricing: 

** Friday -> $19.99

** Saturday -> $19.99

** Friday AND Saturday -> $34.99

** Friday VIP -> $45.99

** Saturday VIP -> $45.99

** Sunday -> Included with purchase of Friday AND Saturday AND one VIP

Andy Hall, dobro and vocalist for the GRAMMY-award winning bluegrass band the Infamous Stringdusters, is announcing his new solo record, 12 Bluegrass Classics for Resophonic Guitar. The album is to be released on October 16, 2020 on Tape Time Records via Regime Music Group.

12 Bluegrass Classics for Resophonic Guitar takes the listener on an all-instrumental journey across the landscape of Hall’s own sound and his influences. The album marks a return to the foundation of his life as a dobro player, featuring the musician and the classic tunes learned early on in his bluegrass journey.

The album, and its first two singles “Leather Britches” and “Amazing Grace” can be pre-saved here.

“I've always striven to push the envelope as a player, but never had the chance to put my stamp on some of the formative tunes I've always played at jam sessions. I chose songs that were familiar to me, shared Andy. “[These are] tunes that I've been playing for years, and that have shaped my playing. These 12 are some of my favorites, and I'm happy to get to offer up my take on them!”

Andy teaches online lessons through the Artistworks teaching platform and to date has taught thousands of students the fundamentals of resonator guitar. Andy has shared the stage and recorded with a wide range of artists including Dolly Parton, Wynona, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs, Ryan Adams, Zack Brown, Charlie Daniels, Jack Black, Rodney Crowell and many others.

The full 12 Bluegrass Classics for Resophonic Guitar tracklist is as follows:

Leather Britches

I Am A Pilgrim

Panhandle Rag

House of the Rising Sun

Dixie Hoedown

Ashokan Farewell

Foggy Mountain Rock

Cherokee Shuffle

Ookpik Waltz

Home Sweet Home

Fireball Mail

Amazing Grace

Andy Hall, dobro and vocalist for the GRAMMY-award winning bluegrass band the Infamous Stringdusters, has released the first single of his forthcoming solo record, 12 Bluegrass Classics for Resophonic Guitar.

The song, “Leather Britches,” is the opening track for the album, set to be released on October 16, 2020 on Tape Time Records via Regime Music Group.

According to the Library of Congress, “Leather Britches” is a well-known reel in British and American tradition. It has been recorded and performed by a number of bluegrass greats including Sam Bush, John Hartford, Hot Rize, Flatt & Scruggs and many more.

The song is available now on all major digital streaming platforms, and can be found here.

Andy teaches online lessons through the Artistworks teaching platform and to date has taught thousands of students the fundamentals of resonator guitar. Andy has shared the stage and recorded with a wide range of artists including Dolly Parton, Wynona, Emmylou Harris, Earl Scruggs, Ryan Adams, Zac Brown, Charlie Daniels, Jack Black, Rodney Crowell and many others.

The full 12 Bluegrass Classics for Resophonic Guitar tracklist is as follows:

Leather Britches

I Am A Pilgrim

Panhandle Rag

House of the Rising Sun

Dixie Hoedown

Ashokan Farewell

Foggy Mountain Rock

Cherokee Shuffle

Ookpik Waltz

Home Sweet Home

Fireball Mail

Amazing Grace

GRAMMY-nominated funk-jazz-soul-hip-hop-psychedelic-jam-experimental titans Lettuce have issued the eye-catching official video for the instrumental track “Silence Is Golden” off their new album Resonate. CLICK HERE to watch. The colorful, animated storybook visual was created by the team at Black Balloon Media (My Chemical Romance, Bebe Rexha, Neil Young, Josh Groban): director Brad Strickman, producer Shane Strickman and illustrator Carolyn Arcabascio. Images from the video will be transformed into coloring book pages for fans to enjoy, with the first available to download via Lettuce’s socials, released digitally May 8th via Round Hill Records, peaked at #1 on the iTunes Top Jazz Albums charts in multiple countries including the U.S. and Canada, debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart, and has accumulated nearly 4 million total streams. CLICK HERE to listen to Resonate. Physical CDs and vinyl are available globally, order and bundle packages available at the official Lettuce webstore.

“With this video, we want to take you on a visually stunning, colorful journey into a fantastic storybook-like world that invokes peace and inspires creativity,” shares guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff. “We want to make the connection resonate between ourselves, nature, and the spirit that binds us all together. Lett us present, ‘Silence is Golden.’”

“Working on the art, it was amazing to me how Lettuce’s music already felt so visual,” adds the video’s illustrator Carolyn Arcabascio. “You can just imagine the colors as the song goes from dreamy and trance-like to energetic and explosive. A total dream project for an illustrator.” Brad Strickman, director, also shares, “We really enjoyed bringing this video to life for Lettuce and their management team. The song has such a great vibe and, right from the beginning, we loved their concept of nature and music connecting us all.”

“The connection of nature to music is essential to understand.  The sound of the leaves swaying in the soft breeze along with the crickets and birds singing, can be very inspiring. This song represents a quiet place that resides in all of our minds that can bring peace to our souls. Lettuce meditate to the golden silence.” adds drummer Adam Deitch.

Resonate, their seventh studio album, is a sonic continuation of the acclaimed sextet’s 2019 GRAMMY Award-nominated album Elevate, which earned Lettuce their first collective nomination in the category of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. The new, critically-acclaimed 11-track collection, featuring the singles “House of Lett,” “Checker Wrecker” featuring DC go-go music legends Big Tony Fisher of Trouble Funk and Tyrone “Jungle Boogie” Williams of Rare Essence, and “‘NDUGU,” plays like a master class in funk sub-genres. On Resonate, Lettuce continue to be celebrated boundary-pushing innovators nearly three decades into their lauded career, blurring the lines and smashing it up with jazz chords, psychedelic passages, big horns, strains of soul and go-go, hip-hop elements and a joyful, uplifting improvisational sound all their own. They also found inspiration from many of their idols, such as James Brown and Earth, Wind & Fire, for the new music. Resonate was helmed by esteemed producer and engineer Russ Elevado [D’Angelo, The Roots, Erykah Badu] and written and recorded during the same Colorado Sound Studio sessions for Elevate.

A powerhouse collective made up of world-class master musicians, the members of Lettuce – Adam Deitch (drums, percussion, arrangement), Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff (guitar), Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bass), Ryan Zoidis (alto, baritone, tenor sax, Korg X-911), Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet, horns) and Nigel Hall (vocals, Hammond B-3, Rhodes, clavinet, keyboards) – are also some of the most highly sought-after musicians in the industry with resumes that read like a who’s who in hip-hop, pop, and beyond, working and performing with everyone from Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Questlove, Justin Timberlake, The Fugees, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Britney Spears, Gary Clark Jr., Skrillex, Solange, and so many more. Lettuce’s ever-changing and all-inclusive musical palette is often praised for the way it blurs lines and smashes together genres into exciting and compelling art – drawing acclaim from everyone from NPR, New York Times, Consequence of Sound and Billboard to BrooklynVegan, Earmilk, HipHopDX and Relix. CLICK HERE to watch the official live video for “House of Lett,” demonstrating the remarkable live shows that Lettuce is renowned for.

The team behind the WinterWonderGrass Music & Brew Festival, like many in the live event space, was faced with one of its toughest obstacles to date amidst the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus back in March - a cancelation of all remaining 2020 events. Following its expansion into RiverWonderGrass this summer, Bonfire Entertainment, WWG Festival promoters, together with Adrift Dinosaur, are very pleased to share its 2021 lineup for the RiverWonderGrass Expedition Series.

Event dates and artists include:

June 12 - Yampa River - Daniel Rodriguez, Tyler Grant & Special Guests

June 17 - Yampa River - Mishka (Reggae/Folk)

June 23 - Gates of Lodore - Lech & Lorenzo (California Honeydrops)

July 2 - Gates of Lodore - Pickin on the Dead

July 8 - Gates of Lodore - Pixie & the Partygrass Boys

July 18 - Gates of Lodore - Lindsay Lou, Tyler Grant & Special Guest

July 23 - Gates of Lodore - WinterWonderWomen (Ladies-only expedition ft. Bridget Law & Lindsay Lou)

August 20 - Gates of Lodore - Trout Steak Revival

August 27 - Gates of Lodore - WinterWonderGrass All-stars

September 9 - Gates of Lodore - Buffalo Commons

All expeditions are 4 days total, with the exception of the two Yampa trips which are 5 days. Tickets and more information for all trips can be found here.

“Reconnecting with nature always brings me back to the things that are most important in life: gratitude, presence, and love," shared Joe Hawley, former NFL player who went on a 2020 trip. "Combine that with great music, incredible people, and the thrill of some rapids, and you’ve got a life-changing experience.”

The model for RiverWonderGrass was built upon the manifestation of a dream by festival founder, Scotty Stoughton: a multi-day on-river experience, bringing together friends and artists of the WinterWonderGrass community through pristine white water, deserted beach campsites and sweet bluegrass music to resonate off canyon walls. Scotty shared, “From the moment I embarked on the 21 day Stand Up Paddle Grand Canyon Expedition, I knew I needed to find a way to share this magic. The power of an overnight river trip to heal you emotionally, challenge you physically and nurture you spiritually has become my medicine, and I wanted to share!”

Where’s the tie-in, you ask? Outside of producing the WinterWonderGrass Festival [and Campout for the Cause], Scotty is an active partner of host river outfitter, Adrift Dinosaur, based out of northeastern Utah. Scotty and his partner, Javier Placer, have a long-standing history as friends [and individually] with river culture. From a collaborative float through the Grand Canyon to hundreds of miles floated this summer alone.

These RiverWonderGrass expeditions are intimate as they come, offering attendees an honest opportunity to disconnect from their day-to-day and focus intention on reconnecting with themselves in an unrivaled natural venue. All trips are extremely limited to 20 people to account for the musicians and the support staff, and include all meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all equipment, guides, music, and experiences.

Information on forthcoming WWG TV episodes, and a co-produced non-profit benefit with partners, Friends of the Yampa, is all forthcoming.

Cut-to-heart folk rock sextet, Dustbowl Revival, are pleased to announce the dates and lineup for the next edition of their virtual music festival, Sway-at-Home.

The event will take place, virtually of course, Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30 on Dustbowl’s Facebook and YouTube pages; and will feature sets from the likes of Tim O’Brien, David Bromberg, Aubrie Sellers, Silvana Estrada, Oliver Wood (the Wood Brothers) and many more. Sway-at-Home will kick off at 3:30pm PT on each day.

“We started Sway-at-Home [way back] in April when we realized our group, and many of our touring friends’ groups, wouldn’t get to play music festivals during this hard and strange time,” shared Z. Lupetin of Dustbowl Revival. “Instead of despairing, we created something new, bringing artists and songwriters together in a way that only music gatherings can.

While Sway-at-Home is completely free to view, the Dustbowl team encourages both tips to the festival and artists themselves (whose information will appear on-screen during the fest), but also for viewers to consider donations to Color for Change and MusiCares.

“Music makes community, and I thank Dustbowl Revival for gathering us together, even if we have to watch a screen to do it” shared Sway-at-Home guest, Tim O’Brien. “I’m really excited to see friends like David Bromberg, Guy Davis, Oliver Wood, and the Mammals, but also to make new friends with folks like Silvana Estrada and Stay Wild. Life is worth living, so stay safe and make sure to vote!“

Outside of Sway-at-Home, Dustbowl Revival recently released their latest single, “Beside You,” a song recorded initially in part of the Is it You, Is it Me sessions.

“It’s been a dark year for many music lovers,” shared Z. “We hope this will lighten people’s spirits. It’s gonna be epic!”

Dustbowl Revival is composed of core members Z. Lupetin (lead vocals/guitar), Liz Beebe (lead vocals), Matt Rubin (trumpet/flugelhorn/keys), Ulf Bjorlin (trombones) and Josh Heffernan (drums/percussion).

Bay Area funk and soul pioneers, Tower of Power, have detailed the kick-off to their 55th anniversary tour. The band, known for their iconic hits such as “You’re Still A Young Man,” “What is Hip?” and “So Very Hard To Go” has been leaving their fans wowed since their earliest days in Oakland.

Tower of Power will be hitting the road in January to celebrate the 55 years of genre-shaping music, including a stop in Buffalo, NY with the Buffalo Philharmonic. The tour raps from the West Coast down through the Southeast, performing in marquee theaters and performing arts centers. “We were a soul band called the Motowns,” shared founder and bandleader Emilio Castillo. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there and my brother was the drummer. I met Doc back in 1968 and gave him an audition. He came in the band and we eventually changed our name to the Tower of Power.”

In its current formation, the band features original members Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka and David Garibaldi, along with longtime members Jerry Cortez, Roger Smith, Tom Politzer, Adolfo Acosta and Marc van Wageningen. Most recently TOP was rejoined by former member Mike Bogart and is now being led by vocalist and one-time performer on the Voice, Mike Jerel.

“WOW, 55 years!! Tower of Power is heading coast to coast in 2023 to celebrate 55 years of being a band,” Castillo went on. “I can remember back in the day dreaming about getting all the way to Sacramento [from Oakland]. To say the least, we’ve far exceeded our wildest dreams. An eternal thank you to our fans for keeping the spirit of Tower of Power alive for all these years. Looking forward to seeing you in 2023 for a proper SOUL VACCINATION!”

Tower of Power’s complete tour is as follows:

December 31 - The Cabot - Beverly, MA

January 27 - Nugget Casino Ballroom - Sparks, NV

January 28 - Silverton Casino - Las Vegas, NV

February 9 - Harris Center for the Arts - Folsom, CA

February 10 - Turlock Community Center - Turlock, CA

February 11 - Yaamava Resort and Casino - Highland, CA

February 17 - Kleinhans Music Center - Buffalo, NY (with the Buffalo Philharmonic)

February 18 - Colonial Theatre - Laconia, NH

February 19 - American Music Theater - Lancaster, PA

February 21 - Paramount Theatre - Charlottesville, VA

February 22 - Lexington Opera House - Lexington, KY

February 23 - Carolina Theater - Durham, NC

February 25 - Peace Concert Hall - Greenville, SC

February 26 - Blumenthal Performing Arts Center - Charlotte, NC

February 28 - Florida Theater - Jacksonville, FL

March 1 - Artis-Naples - Naples, FL

March 3 - Maxwell King Center - Melbourne, FL

March 4 - The Parker - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

May 11-14 - Blue Note - Honolulu, HI

Tower of Power, known for their iconic horn-led funk and soul sound, is pleased to announce their new Holiday EP, It’s Christmas and a handful of select dates to kick off 2024. These announcements come on the heels of a major touring year for Tower of Power, celebrating 55 years since the band’s founding.

“55 years have flashed before us in the blink of an eye, and this year has been extraordinary,” shared Emilio Castillo - founder and bandleader for Tower of Power. “2023 has been a monumental year for Tower of Power - from a sold-out European tour to performances with world-renowned symphonies and shows that have attracted fans from every era of Tower of Power’s history. And we’re glad to be celebrating the holiday season with the release of our new EP. We can't wait to get back out in 2024 to keep the spirit of funk and soul alive!”

It’s Christmas was produced by Joe Vannelli and bandleader Emilio Castillo at Blue Moon Studios outside of Los Angeles. The EP features a number of traditional Christmas songs as well as an original, “It’s Christmas (A Long Way from Home),” written by Emilio, Doc Kupka and Joe Vannelli. It’s Christmas is available now, exclusively on CD through the band’s online store and on tour this winter. The complete tracklist includes:

    The Christmas Song

    This Christmas

    A Very Special Christmas

    Santa Claus is Coming to Town

    Silver Bells

    It’s Christmas (A Long Way from Home)

    O Holy Night

The band, currently on break following a month-long trek across the US, returns to the stage this fall and early winter with a series of Holidays and Hits performances. Following the New Year, Tower of Power will resume touring in January with a week-long stint across Florida and up into the Midwest. Additional dates are expected soon.

All current tour dates include:

Holidays and Hits 2023

November 25 - Thousand Oaks, CA

November 26 - Las Vegas, NV

November 28 & 29 - Scottsdale, AZ

December 1 - El Cajon, CA

December 2 - Coachella, CA

December 3 - Lemoore, CA

December 5 - Grass Valley, CA

December 7 - Salem, OR

December 8 - Spokane, WA

December 10 - Tulalip, WA

December 12 - Kalispell, MT

December 13 - Ketchum, ID

December 15 - Oakland, CA

December 16 - Campbell, CA

December 17 - Cerritos, CA

2024

January 27 - Soul Train Cruise

February 4 - Ft. Pierce, FL

February 6 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

February 8 - Clearwater, FL

February 9 - Ft. Myers, FL

February 10 - Orlando, FL

February 17 - Sparks, NV

February 29 - Ft. Wayne, IN

March 1 - Flint, MI

March 14 - St. Louis, MO

March 15 - Tunica, MS

March 16 - Nashville, IN

March 23 - Albuquerque, NM

May 11 - Houston, TX

About Tower of Power: For over 55 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music. “We were a Soul band called The Motowns,” recalls Emilio Castillo, founder of Tower of Power. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there, and my brother was the drummer. I met ‘Doc’ Kupka back in 1968 and gave him an audition. He came in the band, and we eventually changed our name to the Tower of Power.” East Bay Grease defined their sound and landed them with Warner Brothers. Bump City, their 1972 debut for the label, was a hit on both the Billboard 200 and the R&B Albums chart and netted them the hits “You’re Still A Young Man” and “Down to The Nightclub.” The 70s were a boom period with radio classics like “So Very Hard to Go” and “What Is Hip?”, and the band continued to tour and record over the years. Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968.

The band has long since surpassed Castillo’s modest aspirations, traveling the world, enjoying hit singles on their own and backing legendary artists including Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. In the process they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as instantly recognizable as those from Castillo’s hometown, Detroit, as well as inspirations like Memphis and Philadelphia.